Alright Ive been doing searches on the Dash painting/overlays all day (I avoided a LOT of work doing this) and have somewhat found what I was looking for. I found everything but a handy dandy guide.
What I would really like to do is buy complete replacements for all the black pieces of my 97 Tour dash and have them replaced with either brushed aluminum or carbon fiber (maybe not the real stuff cause then Id have to sell the ovaries I dont have) so it would look really good. Ive yet to find anything but overlays. And Im somewhat reluctant on overlays because no matter how good the overlays and how long and careful you are to putting them on, there will be gaps or unevenness making it look somewhat like a big sticker. I dont want that sticker look and would like the whole thing looking awesome.
So this is where painting everything comes in. If Im gonna start painting everything Im gonna paint EVERYTHING. Im talking about the black parts as well as the beige dash (the part that goes right under the windshield) and the guards. I know itll take a long time to completely finish (Im finally willing to leave parts Im working on out of my car for a day or two and deal with an imcomplete interior...kinda) but Im having a hard time finding anyone actually posting a guide. Ive heard you have to use certain paints, possibly dying it, sanding, priming, just cleaning, wipe off dust, dont use certain cleaning agents, etc... But I havent seen anyone saying how to take off the larger components of the dash (namely the large piece thats right by the front window) or how hard it is.
Now I have a repair manual (I forget what its called but its the big paperback with 100 pages telling you how to do everything from change the oil to properly position the seats to have comfortable sex) at home so I dont know if it would give me proper instructions on how to remove it. Plus Id prefer to have someone thats done a project like this tell me themselves only because then they would have experiance and let me know what to stay away from doing. IE dont pull too hard or youll break clips that will cause the world to end) and maybe some helpful hints other then "remove part b from part a while holding down part c and turning counter-clockwise while standing on one foot.
Im not a genius when it comes down to cars. I know the basics like changing a flat, oil, brakes, bulbs, intake and thats pretty much it. I have limited experiance on painting but know that you have to sand, wipe down, prime 2 coats, paint 2 or 3 coats, and a clear coat. I have the paint already that I got from Pep Boys (its an irridescant<SP?> so lay off the Pep Boys purchase) so I know the colors that I wanna do and basically how to do it.
I just dont know whats really involved in removing the entire dash. Just the 12 component parts. I couldnt find a how-to or any hints about taking off the larger portions of the dash (everything including above and below the airbag and the airbag itself, as long as its not gonna effect the airbags usability) and was hoping that maybe at least one of you guys know what the process is, how hard it is, how smart it is and maybe any hints on how to make it easier and what I should stay away from if possible.
Any help will instantly win you a posting of the final product once I get finished with it and a great big Thank you personally from me to you.
If you need to know the model and year its a 97 Contour SE v6.
If you know anywhere I might even be able to pick up replacement pieces that are already brushed aluminum or fiberglass to help save me the huge hassle then thatd be greatly appreciated and earn you the same exact rewards.
